By Staff Writer

The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has strengthened its capacity to deliver services and build knowledge about the local sphere of government with two senior staff appointments.

“The MAV has appointed Dr Michael Henry, on a part-time basis, as the convenor of a new Economic Policy and Research Unit and Andrew Rowe will provide expanded councillor welfare and support services," says MAV president Dick Gross.
“Dr Henry will oversee projects that investigate economic rationale and undertake extensive policy analysis to bolster the MAV’s strategic focus and advocacy on financial matters impacting on local government.
“Among the issues to be tackled in the coming months are research into the capacity of communities to pay rates, identifying priority areas to reduce the sector’s regulation burden on the community and analysis of councils’ financial health and sustainability.

He says Dr Henry has more than 30 years’ experience in strategic planning and research, working in a wide variety of organisations in Australia and the US.

Former Victorian Local Governance Association CEO Andrew Rowe will start his appointment as a specialist consultant to the MAV on April 2. He will work on welfare and support programs, including the upcoming review of councillor remuneration, as well as a range of governance and training initiatives to improve the leadership capacity of councillors, says Cr Gross.

“Community expectations of councillors are high and Andrew’s role will build on the Councillor Competency Framework developed by the MAV last year that documented the complex role of a councillor and the attributes, skills and knowledge needed to be effective in the role," he says.